How Mars, Meta, Patagonia and L’Oréal Are Tackling Scope 3 Emissions: GreenBiz26
At GreenBiz26, sustainability leaders from Mars, Meta, Patagonia and L’Oréal detailed how they are measuring and cutting scope 3 emissions, which account for up to 90% of corporate carbon footprints. Mars reported a 16.4% supply‑chain emissions reduction since 2015 and launched a 2025 renewable‑energy‑certificate program targeting a further 10% cut. Meta is advancing clean‑energy procurement for data‑center suppliers and piloting mass‑timber construction, while Patagonia finances energy‑efficiency upgrades for textile suppliers. L’Oréal is tackling raw‑material, packaging and digital‑media emissions through sector collaborations and new standards.
FedEx Introduces Reusable Shipping Boxes for B2B Shipments
FedEx has launched a reusable shipping box system for B2B shipments, created with Returnity. The collapsible containers hold up to 50 lb, survive roughly 50 reuse cycles, and fit existing FedEx sorting equipment. FedEx says the solution can slash packaging costs...
5 Top Generative AI Use Cases in Procurement
Generative AI is reshaping procurement by automating document‑heavy tasks such as drafting RFPs, reviewing contracts, analyzing spend, assessing supplier risk, and supporting unusual purchase requisitions. The technology can produce first‑draft texts, flag non‑standard clauses, surface tail‑spend anomalies, and continuously monitor...
Renfe Displays Spanish Trains in Real-Time Map and Unifies Geolocation Systems
Renfe has unveiled a real‑time online platform that maps every high‑speed, long‑distance and medium‑distance train across Spain, displaying punctuality and service details. The system lets users filter by train type, view remaining stops, and see colour‑coded delay indicators. QR codes...
EcoVadis, Watershed Partner to Provide Scope 3 Data Solutions
EcoVadis and climate‑tech firm Watershed announced a strategic partnership to deliver precise Scope 3 emissions data across supply chains. The collaboration embeds EcoVadis’ supplier‑level carbon metrics into Watershed’s AI‑powered accounting platform, moving firms away from generic averages toward verified supplier data....
IATA Launches DG Digital
IATA unveiled DG Digital at its World Cargo Symposium in Lima, a fully electronic Dangerous Goods Declaration tool that integrates with the DG AutoCheck platform. The solution digitises creation and approval for more than 3,800 hazardous items, eliminating the 95%...
How Tariff Early Movers Can Continue to Cement Their Advantage
When the Trump administration imposed tariffs, firms that quickly diversified suppliers and shifted production to near‑shore locations gained a lasting competitive edge. These early movers reduced geopolitical risk, shortened lead times, and improved working‑capital turnover, while companies that delayed faced...
Best Buy Counters Memory Shortage with Inventory, Vendor Tweaks
Best Buy is confronting a sharp rise in memory‑chip costs driven by an AI‑fuelled data‑center boom. The retailer plans to load warehouses with extra stock, extend vendor forecasting windows, and tighten assortments in high‑pressure categories. It also encourages suppliers to highlight...
CTDOT Announces $20MM in Rail Freight Infrastructure Grants
The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced a $20 million rail freight infrastructure grant program, supplemented by $4 million of private railroad investment. Six regional freight carriers—CSO, HRRC, NAUG, NECR, P&W, and PAS—will receive awards ranging from $1.5 million to $4.9 million for bridge repairs,...
Alstom to Deliver CBTC System for Paris Metro Line 8 Modernisation
Alstom has been chosen to supply its I‑CBTC onboard signalling system for Paris Metro Line 8 as part of the OCTYS 2030 modernisation programme. The contract covers an onboard automatic train control solution operating at Grade of Automation 2 and a dedicated radio...
Awery Becomes First Company to Integrate IATA CO2 Connect Tool for Cargo
Awery Aviation Software has become the first digital platform to embed IATA’s CO2 Connect for Cargo into its ERP system, giving users real‑time, flight‑specific emissions data within existing workflows. The calculator draws on operational inputs from over 100 airlines, delivering...
Anglo American Iron Ore Cargoes Diverted by Iran War
Anglo American rerouted three iron‑ore vessels after the Strait of Hormuz became impassable following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The ships—Cape Shangrila, Cape Jasmine and Mineral Zimbabwe—were diverted to Singapore, Vietnam and China respectively. Vale experienced similar disruptions, sending...
What It Really Means: Balancing Demand and Supply
Balancing demand and supply is the cornerstone of effective supply‑chain planning, ensuring forecasts align with production capacity and inventory. When gaps arise, firms resort to costly “heroics” such as overtime, expedited freight, or excess stock, eroding margins. The article outlines...
As War Rages, Multimodal Demand Surges on Asia-Europe Landbridge
Major ocean carriers are rerouting Gulf‑bound cargo to land‑based corridors after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed by the ongoing war. Maersk now ships to Salalah, Khor Fakkan and Jeddah, then secures trucking capacity to move goods into the Persian...
Manz Asia and Epson Form Strategic Partnership to Advance Inkjet Technology for Semiconductor Manufacturing
Manz Asia and Seiko Epson have formed a strategic partnership to develop Lab‑to‑Fab inkjet equipment for semiconductor manufacturing. The collaboration merges Epson’s high‑precision printhead technology with Manz’s equipment engineering and intelligent software, creating a product line that covers R&D, pilot,...
Waberer’s Rail Freight Subsidiary Wins Major Contract with BMW
PSP Rail, the rail freight arm of Hungary’s Waberer’s International, has landed a long‑term contract with BMW to move finished vehicles from the automaker’s Debrecen plant to European seaports for export. The agreement, running through 2031, will initially replace a...
Why Platform Consolidation Pays Off
Manufacturers increasingly recognize that juggling multiple best‑of‑breed automation platforms drives hidden costs far beyond initial equipment spend. Training a single technician on five disparate systems can exceed $50,000, inflating a plant’s training budget to a million dollars. Consolidating onto a...
Facing Heavy Losses, Honda Cancels Its Three US-Made Electric Vehicles
Honda announced the cancellation of its three U.S.-made electric vehicles—the Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 sedan, and Acura RSX EV—after projecting losses of $5.1 billion to $7 billion for the fiscal year. The decision stems from a mix of trade‑war tariffs, the end of the...
Freight Economy Sees Familiar Uncertainty as New Pressures Emerge
The freight economy faces renewed uncertainty driven by three new pressures: a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the White House’s IEEPA tariffs and introduced a 10‑15% Section 122 duty, the United States and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran,...
IATA Announces New AI Initiatives to Support Air Cargo Operations
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled three AI‑focused initiatives aimed at modernising air cargo operations. The first is AI Subject Matter Expert (AI SME), a mobile and web app that lets users query IATA cargo and safety manuals in...
Power Extension for High-Efficiency Drives - IE5+ Synchronous Motors in a New Size
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has launched an IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motor line that now reaches 11 kW, extending its compact high‑efficiency portfolio. The motors deliver up to 95% efficiency across a wide torque range, cutting energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in industrial applications....
DRM to Showcase Integrated Automation Systems at MAX 2026
DRM, LLC will exhibit at the MAX Manufacturing and Automation Exchange in Nashville from March 24‑26, showcasing its end‑to‑end automation solutions at Booth #515. The company will run a live robotic demonstration cell that highlights precision motion control for dispensing, material...
SAVE THE DATE: Stockholm Customs Day, Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 9:00am
Baker McKenzie will host a Stockholm Customs Day on 25 March 2026 at 9 am, targeting customs, trade compliance professionals and legal counsel. The half‑day, in‑person event features speakers from the firm’s Stockholm office and other global locations. The agenda covers the latest...
On-Demand: How a 3PL Automated to Meet New Productivity Needs for a Global CPG Leader
Howard Tenens Group partnered with Ocado Intelligent Automation to automate a global consumer‑packaged‑goods (CPG) client’s operations within a shared 3PL warehouse. The selective automation deployment was rolled out while other tenants continued unchanged, leveraging software‑driven insights to boost productivity and...
Dnata on Track with New Handling Facility at Zurich
Air services provider dnata announced that construction of its new Cargo Centre at Zurich Airport is well advanced and remains on track for an early‑2027 opening. The facility will raise dnata’s freight handling capacity in Zurich by 50%, from 60,000...
West Asia Conflict Hits Bhilwara Textile Exports; US $86 Million–US $100 Million in Shipments Affected
The Gulf conflict is disrupting trade routes, causing Indian textile exporters to face delays and higher costs. Bhilwara, a major textile hub, now has shipments worth Rs 800‑1,000 crore (US $86‑$108 million) on hold, affecting key markets in the Gulf and Europe. Exporters cite...
Box Ship Hit in Gulf as Fuel and Surcharges Spike Costs
The containership Source Blessing was hit by shrapnel 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, igniting a small fire but leaving the crew unharmed. The incident marks a widening of attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz, prompting carriers to suspend...
Archer Files Counterclaim Against Joby “for Use of Chinese Technology in the S4 eVTOL”
Archer Aviation has lodged a counter‑claim against Joby Aviation, alleging that Joby concealed Chinese‑origin components in its S4 eVTOL and mislabeled them as consumer goods to sidestep U.S. tariffs. The filing, made on March 9 in the Northern District of California,...
The Growing Cyber Risk to Supply Chains
Corporate leaders are shifting view of cybersecurity from an internal IT issue to an operational capability essential for supply‑chain continuity. AI and automation have expanded the digital footprint of vendors, increasing exposure to cyber threats. Simultaneously, the intensifying Middle East...
Middle East Conflict Ripples Through Karnataka’s Garment and Silk Industries
The escalating Middle‑East conflict is disrupting Karnataka’s textile supply chain, slashing new garment orders by 25‑30% for March 2026 and pushing overall garment exports down 15‑20%. Export shipments worth roughly $2 billion are stranded, while silk demand has slipped 8% and cocoon...
Supply Chain Layoffs Spread Across Warehouses, Factories and Rail Terminals
A wave of supply‑chain layoffs has swept across the United States, affecting roughly 4,000 workers in recent weeks. The biggest cuts came from SK Battery America, which shed 958 jobs (about 37% of its staff) and First Brands Group, which...
Four Companies Form UK Defence Supply Chain Alliance
Amentum, GXO Logistics, Accenture and A.P. Moller‑Maersk have launched Torus Defence Supply Chain, a new alliance aimed at strengthening UK defence supply‑chain resilience. The partnership will deliver integrated logistics, digital transformation and global freight services to support evolving defence requirements....
EXMAR Deploys Inmarsat's NexusWave Connectivity Service Across Fleet
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, is deploying its NexusWave connectivity service across EXMAR’s global gas carrier fleet. The managed solution bonds GX Ka‑band, LEO, LTE and L‑band underlays to ensure uninterrupted ship‑to‑shore communications and crew internet. EXMAR reports faster collaboration,...
Listen to the RF Podcast #8: ‘Battery/Electric Locos Are the Way to Go’
At RailTech Europe 2026, Nexrail’s Chief Business Development Officer Mark Remie discussed a hybrid battery‑electric locomotive strategy on RF Podcast #8. The approach combines on‑board batteries with grid electricity to capture regenerative braking energy and reduce fuel consumption by up...
Oil Prices Go Up 6% as Hormuz Shipping Crisis Deepens
Oil prices surged on Thursday as Iran intensified attacks on oil and transport infrastructure, reigniting fears of prolonged disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures jumped 6.47% to $97.93 a barrel, briefly touching $100, while U.S. WTI rose 6%...
Is A New Global Apparel Industry Emerging?
Robert Antoshak argues that a new global apparel ecosystem is forming as manufacturers scramble to bypass volatile tariff regimes. Companies are reshoring, leveraging digital cut‑and‑sew platforms, and adopting sustainable fibers to meet shifting consumer expectations. Trade policy volatility is prompting...
Exotec and Komar Launch ‘Next-Generation’ Automated Fulfilment Centre in Savannah
Exotec is deploying its Skypod robotic system at Komar Distribution Services' 760,000‑square‑foot Savannah fulfillment centre. The modular solution promises up to 50% higher throughput and 30% greater storage density while handling both case and single‑item picking. Full automation is slated...
Himalaya Shipping Lands Premium Index-Linked Charter
Himalaya Shipping has secured a 12‑ to 14‑month charter for its 210,000 dwt newcastlemax bulk carrier Mount Matterhorn, tied to the Baltic Exchange Capesize 5TC Index and offering a premium over the benchmark. The vessel will begin the new contract in...
Serve Robotics and White Castle Launch Autonomous Delivery via Uber Eats
Serve Robotics and White Castle have teamed up to ship the chain’s sliders and other menu items using autonomous sidewalk robots through Uber Eats. The rollout adds Serve’s third‑generation delivery bots to the existing Uber Eats network, which already operates in major...
Middle East War Threatens African Agriculture
The Middle East war and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have driven oil prices to $87‑$120 a barrel and disrupted Gulf fertilizer exports. Fertilizer futures jumped over 10% on the first trading day, with analysts expecting a 17%...
SBB Cargo Continues to Bleed
Swiss rail freight arm SBB Cargo posted a 122 million CHF loss for 2025, a 60 % increase from the prior year, driven largely by asset depreciation. Both domestic and international tonnage continued to fall, with Swiss‑only volumes slipping below five billion net tonne‑kilometres...
Russia Pushes Icebreakers to 270 Days at Sea as Sanctions Slow Arctic Fleet Renewal
Russia will push its nuclear‑powered icebreakers to sea for up to 270 days a year, up from the previous 240‑day target. The move reflects pressure from an aging fleet, sanctions‑induced maintenance delays, and unpredictable ice conditions on the Northern Sea...
Invoice Processing Maturity: From Automation Rates to Exception Economics
Invoice processing maturity is moving beyond simple automation rates toward managing exceptions. While early AP automation focused on touchless processing of standard invoices, organizations now face a plateau as complex, high‑risk invoices dominate. Modern platforms use probabilistic confidence scoring and...
Dürr Unveils Robotic System that Prints Custom Designs on Vehicle Bodies
Dürr introduced EcoNextJet, a robotic drop‑on‑demand printing system that applies custom graphics directly onto vehicle bodies during the paint process. The system uses a 2,000‑nozzle printhead capable of two‑color, 720 dpi resolution and five‑micron paint thickness, replacing traditional film decals. Developed...
Respect the Guts that Power Global Trade
President Trump urged commercial vessels to have the “guts” to cross the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a rebuttal from Captain Akee Sharma of Sailor’s Cart. Sharma emphasizes that seafarers already endure months away from families, hazardous conditions, and constant operational...
Salt Trade Seasoned with Strong Egyptian Flows
Global seaborne salt shipments jumped 19% year‑on‑year to 13.5 million tonnes in January‑February 2026, driven by Egyptian exports that more than doubled to 2.9 million tonnes. The United States recorded a record 4.2 million tonnes discharged, reflecting heightened de‑icing demand after severe winter...
TRIM Invites Private Firms to Bid to Operate Three Rail Sidings for Ten Years
South Africa's Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued requests for proposals to privately operate and invest in three rail sidings—Klaserie, Krugersdorp and Ngagane—for ten‑year terms. The RFPs require bidders to fund refurbishments, loading facilities, security and access upgrades while...
Aerowash Selected by IAG to Supply Aircraft Washing Robots to British Airways at Heathrow
Aerowash has been awarded a multi‑year leasing contract by International Airlines Group to provide aircraft‑washing robots for British Airways at London Heathrow. The deal follows a competitive tender and will see several automated washers deployed across BA’s Heathrow operations. CEO...
UK Government Removes Offshore Wind Energy Tariffs to Help Manufacturers Save Millions
The UK government will waive import duties on 33 wind‑farm components from 1 April, using an “authorised use” customs measure that eliminates tariffs on items such as cables, blades and rotors. Officials say the relief will save manufacturers millions of pounds...
D’Amico Grows Orderbook to 10 Ships with Latest MR2 Order
Italian product tanker owner d’Amico International Shipping has expanded its new‑building programme in China by exercising options for two additional 50,000‑dwt MR2 tankers at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding. The vessels, priced at $45.4 million each, are slated for delivery in August...